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Boulder County deputy, neighbor save woman, 83, from exploding home on Jay Road

By Amy Bounds, Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
02/10/2013 11:28:47 AM MST

Updated:
02/11/2013 12:34:00 PM MST

Deputy Jeff George (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)

A Boulder County sheriff's deputy, a Boulder police officer and a neighbor are being credited with saving an 83-year-old from a home on Jay Road that burned late Saturday night following two explosions caused by a suspected gas leak.

According to the sheriff's office, dispatchers received a call at 11:28 p.m. Saturday of an explosion and fire at 5479 Jay Road, just outside the Boulder city limits.

John Walpole, the neighbor who called 911, said he was watching a Nuggets game when he heard a loud explosion and saw that his neighbor's house was on fire.

He woke up his wife, Claudine, and the two went to the house, discovered flames coming from the basement and tried to get in the back door, which was locked. They went around to the front, where they were met by Sheriff's Deputy Jeff George, who arrived at 11:31 p.m.

The Walpoles told him that an elderly woman lived alone in the residence.

George kicked in the door and Claudine Walpole -- wearing socks because she hadn't taken the time to put on shoes -- showed him the main bedroom, where they found 83-year-old Marvyl Holder on the floor, John Walpole said.

"It was very smoky," John Walpole said. "My wife, she just went in and I followed her. She was able to lead the deputy right to her. They're both heroes."

They carried Holder outside, where Boulder police Officer Ed Burke, the second responder to arrive on scene, helped the deputy carry the woman to safety just moments before a second explosion inside the home.

George and Holder were treated on scene by paramedics for minor smoke inhalation. Holder stayed with them until her daughter arrived, John Walpole said, and is recovering well.

The Boulder County Multi-Agency Fire Investigation Team will investigate today, officials said, but preliminary indications point toward a gas leak.

The home is considered to be a total loss, according to the sheriff's office.

"The house is just a total wreck," John Walpole said. "The floor had heaved, windows were blown out. Something like that is so unreal. I still can't believe it happened."

George is the sheriff's deputy under investigation by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office for his role in helping remove the carcass of the elk that was shot and killed by a Boulder police officer on Mapleton Hill on New Year's Day.

Unlike the two Boulder officers who were involved -- and who have since been arrested and resigned -- George was not placed on suspension or charged criminally in that case.

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